Want to have quality family time? Be an “Independent,” says Michael Liquori.
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For me, it started about four years ago: my introduction to the world of Independent baseball.
I received four tickets to the Newark Bears, a now defunct Independent League team. The 5000 seat almost-empty stadium was what I walked into, solo. I noticed that I could listen to the players, the banter and the talk, as well as the cheap hot dogs and a few beers for the cost of just one major league brew. I was hooked.
As I soaked in the baseballisphere I noticed all around, kids with their parents, smiling….
I took my kids to the next game. Three tickets for a promotion of $15.00 dollars and we had our seats for the Saint Paul Saints versus the Newark Bears. We were joined by my friend and his two children as well. The Kids introduced me to our ability to move down to the first row, a look on the stadium attendant’s face was more similar to “what took so long” then the major league frown of “why are you around”?
The seats were mere suggestions, and we moved to where we were slightly behind the netting behind home plate and next to the Saint Paul dugout. One Saint asked my son and his friend how they were. Their looks said it all, “I’m talking to a pro player!” It was a thrill to the kids, and it was a thrill for me and my friend, to see their faces.
Then the baseballs started being tossed between innings their way with the “here ya go kid”, they walked out with two apiece.
These leagues offer baseball on an intimate, affordable level that understands its role as family facilitator and allows you to spend time with the young ones without mass crowds or cost.
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This version of the minors, or as you find out, independent ball are leagues of non-affiliated baseball clubs. Unlike the majors, the stories of how and why the players and coaches are in the leagues are common and told time and again.
Leagues like the Can-am League (Canadian American League), Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, The American Association just to name a few. Teams are lined in smaller, or college towns throughout the Midwest, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Canada.
These leagues offer the fan and non-fan, baseball on an intimate, affordable level that understand its role as family facilitator and allows you to spend time with the young ones without mass crowds or cost in an intimate stadium time with the family.
Talking to the kids, sitting in the sunshine where even your family dog can join in on the fun at one of the promotional “bark at the park” nights.
What better time is there then surprising the kids with a Sussex County Miner game or New Jersey Jackals versus the RailCats out of Frontier League? The time you get sitting down together on a weekend or early evening, watching your kids and the Somerset Patriots versus the York Revolution that are close enough to hear the crack of the bats is exactly what is needed in a fast paced week and over crowed schedules. It’s such a good bonding time for a fair enough price that you can even splurge to get them the souvenir baseball cap with ice cream and the cool logos on it…an added bonus.
Check it out at the following links, and tell me I’m wrong with my view from the stands….
http://www.atlanticleague.com/?reloaded=true
http://www.americanassociationbaseball.com/
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Photo: Michael Hicks/Flickr